The Florida Chautauqua began as a winter continuation of the New York Chautauqua summer program.

Early photo of the Florida Chautauqua Grounds, showing the original 2,500 seat Auditorium called the Tabernacle, this building was used from 1885-1908. (Photo Courtesy of the Walton Heritage Assoc.)

Florida Chautauqua Association

1884-1936

{click on the blue words to learn more}

How it began

Chautauqua, what is it? In a nut shell it was an educational movement that started on the shores of Lake Chautauqua in New York. It was started by John Heyl Vincent, and Lewis Miller, who thought that education was lacking. They felt that Sunday School was the best forum for improving education, especially in rural areas. They set about August 1874 with the first Chautauqua Lake Sunday School Assembly, formed to provide education for Sunday School Teachers. It grew to include Academic subjects, art, music and physical education. As its success grew, so did its size. Today the Chautauqua Institute is a 750 acre non profit educational center. During the early years the wish for a winter location was born. A committee was formed and locations were scouted. DeFuniak Springs, or Lake De Funiak as it was known then was scouted through the urging of a few locals to Chautauqua representatives. Once A. H. Gillet and C. C. Mclean arrived via train, they saw the beautiful lake and surrounding area, felt the climate was favorable and location had adequate access. They set about with a few locals planning for the first Florida Chautauqua.

In August 1884, the Florida Chautauqua Association was formed with a mix of leaders and prominent workers of the Chautauqua Institute, and some local workers. With that work of preparing for the first Assembly in 1885 began. One of the first public advertising ventures was set up at the 1884 World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition in New Orleans. The Association would organize the Florida Chautauqua Winter Assembly for 41 seasons. With the blessing of John Heyl Vincent, co-founder of the Chautauqua Institute in New York, and organization by many of the workers from the Institute. The beginning of many years of what would be called the “Great Southern Chautauqua” was launched. The first Florida Chautauqua Assembly session went from Feb. 10th, to March 9th, 1885, a season pass cost $3. During this first Assembly classes on Elocution, a Sunday School Normal Department, Art School, Primary Teachers Class, Musical Department and School of Cookery were a few of the features available to patrons. Also during the assembly a Winter session of the Chautauqua School of Theology, and a session of the American Forestry congress met here, along with a new Chautauqua Literary and Science Circle (CLSC) class. After the assembly its success was heralded throughout the nation. International lecturers took to the stage, along with many of the prominent names from the Chautauqua Institute. One in particular was a well known lecturer and author Wallace Bruce, who would play an important role in the future of the fledgling venture. Several buildings, a auditorium, classrooms, and tents were erected for use as classrooms. Visitors could stay at the Chautauqua Hotel, or other small boarding house, which were few this first year. They could even purchase wood for building of “temporary cottages” or for building a floor for a tent to stay in while here. Patrons were encouraged to bring camping gear or they could rent or purchase it while here. In the coming years even the co founders of the movement Lewis Miller, and John Heyl Vincent would visit and speak at the Florida Chautauqua. One of the early results of the Florida Chautauqua, was due to the gathering of scientist, and professors who decided that Lake De Funiak was actually a spring. Therefore, today the town is known as DeFuniak Springs.

Arbor Days beginning in Florida

From it’s success sprang many stories, its leaders became well entrenched with state leaders, including the Governor of Florida E. A. Perry. With his support and on the suggestion of the American Forestry Congress, a Southern Forestry Congress was organized by the Florida Chautauqua Association. On December 16th, 17th, and 18th 1885, the First Southern Forestry Congress met on the shores of Lake De Funiak. In the 2,500 seat Chautauqua Tabernacle, the work of promoting the interest and preservation of southern forest began. One particular success of this first meeting was praised at the second meeting of the Congress during the 1887 Florida Chautauqua Assembly. One of the goals was to bring the idea of Arbor Day to the south. This venture met with much success when during the congress, a speaker named B. G. Northrop spoke on Arbor Day. After his speech, Gov Perry went up to him, took his hand and exclaimed that he liked his Arbor day idea so much he would make it so in Florida. Within a few weeks Florida celebrated its first official Arbor Day. In an address by President Pringle of the Southern Forestry Congress in 1887, he noted several southern states had started Arbor Day observances because of the first congress. It is also worthy to note that on Dec. 17th, 1885, the first planting of trees in the state of Florida in recognition of Arbor day took place on the shores of Lake De Funiak, by the members of the Congress, which included U. S. Dept of Agriculture representatives.

Florida Educators Associations beginning

In 1886, A. J. Russell, Superintendent of Public Instruction worked with the leaders of the Florida Chautauqua to set up a Teachers Institute for the teachers of the southeast to attend. In this meeting, teachers and county superintendents attended, from this what today is known as the Florida Educators Association was formed. The Institute continued for several years, and returned several time throughout the history of the Florida Chautauqua. One of the first two State Normal Schools was located in De Funiak Springs, in 1887, because of the extra educational opportunities presented by the Assemblies. It didn’t stop there. After their work at the Assemblies, the visiting Professors, and Deans would go to schools throughout the south working to improve education.

Success

In 1888, Florida Chautauqua Association President W. D. Chipley recommended Wallace Bruce succeed him as president of the Florida Chautauqua. Wallace and some others bought out the stockholders of the old association for $1500 each and became the new Florida Chautauqua Association. Wallace remained president until 1889 when he left to be U. S. Consul to Edinburgh Scotland. He returned in 1893, and was reelected president by the end of the year. He remained President of the Florida Chautauqua until his death in 1914. During his time, he improved the offerings of the Florida Chautauqua, saw it grow at its longest to 9 weeks, and brought in the best of the best of lecturers, educators and entertainers. Newspapers noted that of all the independent daughters of the Chautauqua Institute, the Florida Chautauqua was second only to the Institute, in content, length of program, and success. It was time and time again praised for its attempts to continue to follow the original plan set by the Chautauqua Institute. Many of its courses followed the University Plan, in which lectures were broken into several sessions, and to complete the course, the student would have to take a test and pass it. After Wallaces death, his son Kenneth took over the reins till 1916 when he died suddenly. Malcolm, Wallace's youngest son took over as president until 1922 when his oldest sister took over and tried to bring the old Chautauqua back to its former glory.

Florida Governors were almost always present each year, along with many of the most prominent names in society, like Sam P. Jones, J. Sterling Morton, Booth Lowrey, William Jennings Bryan, and S. R. Stoddard, as well as some local notables. In 1916, sitting U. S. Vice President Thomas Marshall visited the Assembly. Wallace Bruce’s Friend Robert Todd Lincoln sent donations to support to his friends venture. This Grand Chautauqua was often the talk of the papers in Washington D.C. and New York as well as many other large cities. The Florida Chautauqua was known internationally as a quality product second only to the Chautauqua Institute.

Technology of the day was always present, Magic Lanterns were at the first Assembly, there were essentially a early form of slide projector, used during lectures in a way not dissimilar to modern powerpoint projectors. In 1898, the first moving picture was shown. Many innovations were introduced to the south by the Florida Chautauqua. There are many newspaper articles of the day that state the attendance at times would be 3000 to 4000 a day. In 1899, the cornerstone for a grand auditorium, called the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood would be laid by former Georgia Gov. Gen. John B Gordon. It opened Feb 3rd 1909 for the first time, and was for it’s time a very modern building, seating 4,000, with a stage it was said would hold 100 actors. It has color changing lights, and all the modern conviences of the time. Its building was championed by Wallace Bruce through a fund raising program of his design. He was slowed in 1906 by his stroke so its final product was not quite what Wallace envisioned, but it was then and today the lobby that is left is still an impressive statement to his cause.

The end of an era

After Wallace’s death, his son Kenneth Bruce took over as President of the Florida Chautauqua and continued to produce an assembly on his fathers plan. After his Kenneth’s death in 1916, the program began to decline, along with the public’s interest in Chautauqua. By 1920, the writing was on the wall. The Florida Chautauqua took a brief pause, and in 1926, the Bruce family tried once again to breath life into the once world known Chautauqua. 1927 would be the last full assmebly season, realizing they could no longer move forward, the Florida Chautauqua Association offered it’s center piece the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood for sale to the City of DeFuniak Springs, It took the city nearly 10 years to raise the funds to purchase the building, during which time the Florida Chautauqua Association continued to provide cultural and entertainment programs in the auditorium that once hosted the likes of Thomas Marshall, William Jennings Bryan, and other movers and shakers of the early 20th century. The Florida Chautauqua went quietly into history, but only for a short time.

But that is not the end of the story of Chautauqua in DeFuniak Springs, in 1922 the Woman's Club attempted to revive the Assembly by contracting with the Redpath Chautauqua, the same agency who supplied talent to the Florida Chautauqua. At this point we know they held a Redpath Tent Chautauqua in 1922 through 1932. It appears in 1931 it wasn't very successful, but in 1932 they had enough local sponsership that they were able to provide it free of charge to Chautauquans. It was successful and they vowed to continue in 1933, but later in the year in 1932, the Redpath Chautauqua stopped holding its circuit Chautauqua bringing to the end Chautauqua in DeFuniak. Over the years the Florida Chautauqua was never forgotten, and today Chautauquans once again converge on DeFuniak Springs for the annual assembies. As you drive through our town, you will see homes, street names, and signs of what once was.

1993 – Present: The Revival of the Florida Chautauqua Assembly

by Christopher Mitchell

In 1993, under the leadership of local resident Diane Pickett, an organization was formed (now called The Florida Chautauqua Center, Inc.) for the sole purpose of reviving, promoting, and sustaining the original Florida Chautauqua Assembly. On February 10, 1996, after a hiatus of more than 75 years, organizers officially brought back the Assembly. Much like the original Assembly, our program includes history, health, art, and current events, to name a few, along with entertainment from performers across the country and throughout the world.

In 2007, the board of directors selected Christopher Mitchell of DeFuniak Springs to give the Assembly new direction that would be appealing to families in a rapidly-changing world. The official Florida Chautauqua Assembly is now a 4-day, conference-style event for the entire family which focuses on a different annual theme beginning with the words “A Journey into….”

In 2008, the Florida Chautauqua Assembly theme was “A Journey into the American Presidency,” and virtually all sessions and presentations related to the American presidency. President George W. Bush’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Karl Rove, was the first featured keynote speaker to the newly-formatted Assembly to speak on the White House’s position on many controversial issues relating to stem-cell research and immigration. Former President Jimmy Carter’s senior research assistant, Dr. Steven H. Hochman (in photo on right), also spoke on the role of former presidents using the Jimmy Carter model. In addition to dozens of sessions relating to the American presidency, new exhibits complimented the event, the first being a student museum on the 43 American presidents by the Walton County School District.

In 2009, the Assembly theme was “A Journey into Africa,” featuring keynote speaker Naomi Tutu, daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. She addressed the Assembly on “Growing up in Apartheid South Africa,” then toured the student museum on each of the 53 countries of Africa at the Walton County Fairgrounds, the new featured artist exhibit that year from the Martin & Osa Johnson Safari Museum of Chanute, Kansas, and the new Camp Conservation exhibit at the Walton County Fairgrounds celebrating live animals from around the world. Jim Fowler, former co-star of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, wowed audiences with a presentation on some of these live animals similar to those he did on The Johnny Carson Show.

The 2010 theme was "A Journey into the Caribbean," featuring keynote speaker Jenna Bush-Hager, daughter of former President and Mrs. George W. Bush. She spoke on her work in the Caribbean during a 2006 summer internship with UNICEF. Following her presentation, she toured the Walton County School District's student museum on each of the island nations of the Caribbean and enjoyed some of the live animal exhibits at the Walton County Fairgrounds as well as Jim Wainwright's underwater photography exhibit.

In 2011, the theme was “A Journey into Florida,” featuring keynote speaker Celine Cousteau, filmmaker and granddaughter of legendary Jacques Cousteau. She addressed the Assembly about the underwater world off the coast of Florida. Pamela Landwirth, President of Give Kids the World of Orlando, FL gave a moving presentation of the work Give Kids does for children with life threatening illnesses, and their families. A new food court and art exhibit complimented the many sessions of the 2011 assembly, as did the student museum exhibit on Florida's history.

In 2012 the Theme: “A Journey into the American Presidency” brought us Former President Thomas Jefferson, portrayed by Bill Barker of Colonial Williamsburg.

In 2013, Chautauqua representatives from all across North America, including our sister Chautauqua in Canada joined us to celebrate the Chautauqua Movement and its history. Our featured Keynote speaker was Mrs Rosalyn Carter, former first lady and aspiring Chautauqua leader who met with the Chautauqua Trail members to discuss her wishes to revive Chautauqua in Plains, GA. 2013 also marked the return of the family of the Florida Chautauqua's most important leaders, the Wallace Bruce family, who returned to the stage of the Florida Chautauqua this year.

2014 brought us a chance to journey into the world of film. Demond Wilson, star of the hit tv show Sanford and Son addressed the Chautauquans, and brought us a glimpse into Hollywood.

Disclaimer:

The Florida Chautauqua Center, Inc. is not religiously affiliated nor politically aligned. We select our speakers based on their unique perspectives and relevance to our annual theme.

We do not allow media questions during keynote presentations. We empower our Assembly guests with an opportunity to be their own reporters and ask their own questions. We believe that our guests will be better served by learning directly from the “headliners of our times” rather than from the “headlines of our times.”

Regardless of guests’ political positions or religious beliefs, we ask that all guests keep an open mind, ask thoughtful questions relating specifically to the topic being discussed, and form conclusions based on facts and discussions with the notable people and world leaders who accept our invitation to join us for such historic conversations and presentations.

If a member of your family visited or entertained during our original assembly we would love to hear about it. Contact us through rdaniel911@hotmail.com

Cover of the First Florida Chautauqua Program, 1885.

W. L. Carrico, and his Orchestra, pictured in front of the Hotel Chautauqua, provided music for the Florida Chautauqua from 1904-1909.